How To Correctly Collect and Analyze Racial Profiling Data: Your Reputation Depends on It!

• NCJ Number: 199264
• Author(s): Joyce McMahon Ph.D.; Joel Garner Ph.D.; Ronald Davis; Amanda Kraus Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2006
• Length: 158 pages
• Contract Number(s): GS-23F-8096H
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
• Corporate Author: CNA Analysis & Solutions
• Sale Source: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded November 4, 2005.

Annotation

In focusing on key issues regarding the collection of racial profiling data (data on the use of race as a significant factor in police decisionmaking), this project provided technical assistance to four police agencies--Baltimore, MD; Phoenix, AZ; Chattanooga, TN; and St. Paul, MN--and conducted a relevant literature review and assessed existing and planned racial-profiling data collection and analysis techniques being used by police agencies.

Abstract

The intent of this report is to help readers understand the key issues that confront communities and their law enforcement agencies regarding racial profiling and the collection of police stop data. This project selected four law enforcement agencies that were interested in participating in technical assistance for further developing their data collection and evaluation regarding racial profiling practices in officer decisions to make stops. The study found that the status of racial-profiling data collection and evaluation by police is currently incomplete. Cities currently seem to be pursuing two directions. First, they are attempting to establish lines of communication with community groups regarding race as a factor in police stops. These efforts are designed to defuse tensions, restore trust, and sharpen the focus on profiling issues. Second, many cities are collecting and analyzing data they believe are related to the racial profiling issue. In this effort, most police departments do not have personnel who are qualified to design valid and reliable data collection efforts or to analyze the data collected. This results in incomplete or superficial analyses of racial profiling. Overall, there are too few reliable studies, and studies have been conducted over too short a time and produced findings that are too diverse and have too many methodological limitations. This report provides guidance for future data collection and evaluation. Appended tables, conference agendas, and recommendations on how to eliminate biased policing, and a 46-item bibliography